The year 2022 is on the horizon, and, once again, I refuse to make any new year’s resolutions. I don’t believe in them because I would never keep them. But that won’t stop me from wishing and praying to see something different happen in 2022 from what I’ve seen over the last two years. Resolutions you can make happen, but with wishes and prayers you
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When I was a kid, there was one time when we were going to take my late grandmother to the store to buy a gift for a relative. Grandma was getting advanced in years and having a bit of trouble with her memory. When we asked if she was ready to go, she replied, “Yes, I’ve got my Frank & Seder charge card.” We all
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When children are young there’s no question about it. Santa is real and he is a fat jolly man that has one hard workday a year. The mystery of the Christmas season is magical and as parents we strive to make that gleam in our children’s eyes last forever. Inevitably, as a child grows up, they start to question everything. Including the ‘little white lies’
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Hanukkah is the Jewish festival of lights. Beginning on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, the festival is observed for eight nights. While Hanukkah is now one of the most well-known Jewish celebrations in North America, it is considered a very minor holiday in the Jewish religion. Popular Pittsburgh has put together a brief history behind the holiday and how it came
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Most of the time when you see a product for sale, you only think about if you want it or not and don’t give much consideration as to how the product came into existence. Sometimes, like in the story I’m about to tell you, the most interesting and meaningful part is how a design was created. A Pittsburgh Artist Sue Douglas was a Pittsburgh artist.
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What would you say if you were tasked with giving a final speech? Carnegie Mellon University professor, Randy Pausch, had the opportunity to give one final lecture before his death. Randy Pausch was a professor little-known outside of his field of Computer Science and Human-Computer Interaction. But he was beloved by his students and colleagues. On September 18, 2007, Pausch gave a speech to an
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Dia de los Muertos—or Day of the Dead—is an often misunderstood holiday in the United States. Many believe this Mexican celebration is related to Halloween. While there are similarities, the two holidays originate from different sources. Our History of Halloween article, explains how Samhain—an ancient Celtic festival—evolved over thousands of years into the costumes and trick-or-treating we participate in today. Dia de los Muetos ,
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People have been celebrating Halloween—or some version of it—for more than 2,000 years. Today, many mistakenly associate this Americanized holiday with Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). However, that is not quite true. The roots of Halloween reach much farther back, to Western Europe B.C.E. The Original Halloween Halloween originates from the Celtic New Year festival, Samhain (sow-in). The Celts, who lived during
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The Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty is named for two hometown legends: Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn. Gene Kelly—singer, dancer, actor, filmmaker, and choreographer—is best known for his role in Singin’ in the Rain (1952) and many other films. Billy Strayhorn was an American jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger who collaborated with the likes of Duke Ellington. Both called Pittsburgh home during their
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Civic Associations have a distinctive and vital role in a democratic society. These organizations work with the goal of improving communities. Many serve the important function of providing a collective voice to issues that affect the community. Pittsburgh is home to many civic associations whose missions are to enhance the Greater Pittsburgh area for residents and visitors. Below are some of the most notable.
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